Poolesville Day, September 20th will be here sooner than you think. Every year since 1992 – except the pandemic years – Poolesville has observed its annual festival, celebrating Poolesville, its residents and the communities in the Western County of which it is a part. This year, as usual, vendors and music will spread from one end of Fisher Avenue at the Elementary School to the “Historic West End” and all over Whalen Commons.
A hallmark of Poolesville Day has always been the 10 am morning parade down Poolesville’s “main street” Fisher Avenue, beginning at Poolesville Elementary School and ending at the intersection of Fisher Avenue and West Willard Road. Leading the parade has always been the “Grand Marshal”.
Grand Marshals are selected by the Poolesville Day Committee from nominations submitted by area residents. The Committee uses a set of guidelines to consider the nominations and asks those submitting the name of a person or organization to be Grand Marshal to “describe a specific act or acts (personal or civic) of outstanding service which has been generally recognized as placing the individual or group (nominated) in a category well above others for sustained and distinguished service and commitment to the town of Poolesville and its surrounding areas.”
It is important to note that the guidelines do not specify that any person or organization nominated has to live in Poolesville or its surrounding areas. The nomination is focused rather on what the person or organization has contributed to the health and well-being of the Poolesville area. It is possible, for example, that a county or state official who does not live in our area may have done a lot to make the lives of citizens in the Poolesville area better, for example by introducing and passing legislation that is extremely beneficial to all of us.
Interestingly, not all nominees for Grand Marshal have been individuals. A number of organizations involved in community service in the Poolesville area have been nominated in the past. Jake Perkins, a founder of Poolesville Day and its leader for many years until his death in 2007, was named Grand Marshal posthumously.
The Poolesville Day Committee has made it easy for you to nominate a person or organization on the Poolesville Day website.
Here is the list of people or organizations who have previously been selected for Grand Marshal, going all the way back to 2004:
2024: Brice Halbrook – Former Chair of Poolesville Day, WUMCO Board, Former Commissioner
2023: Kenny Mallow – Local Contractor
2022: Rande Davis- Publisher, The Monocle, Local Historian; and Amar Duggirala Local Physician,
2021: Valaree Dickerson Former Commissioner, Local Activist,
2020: Pandemic No Poolesville Day Event
2019: Gwendora Reese Historian, Founder Sugarland Ethno History Project
2018: Link Hoewing Past Commissioner, PTSA Leader
2017: Jerry Klobukowski Commissioner, Education Liaison
2016: Tim Pike and Margaret Valega Local Business Owners
2015: Grace Sheppard Elementary School Teacher
2014: George Hillard Fire Chief
2013: Maggie Nightingale Local Activist for Poolesville’s Library
2012: Jim Brown Commissioner, Local Business Leader
2011: Ray Hoewing Long Time Local Activist
2010: Jane Stearns Founder of Local Charity WUMCO
2009: Betty Jean and Roy Selby, Long Time Owners of Local Grocery
2008: Poolesville Odd Fellows Lodge Local Charitable Services
2007: Judy and David Feigin Aunt and Uncle of Jake Perkins
2006: Mary Chiswell Teacher, Oldest Poolesville Resident
2005: State Leaders of the Local Charitable Services Groups
Lions Club, Odd Fellows, American Legion
2004: Earl Moore (UMCVD Fire Police and Fire Leaders 2004
Chief) and Sgt. Frank Brown (MCPD, County Police, Fifth District)